Users report some original HomePods 'bricking' with software version 14.6 update
The release version 14.6 of HomePod's operating system is reportedly "bricking" some devices in certain configurations -- especially when paired with an Apple TV.

HomePods are reportedly failing after the 14.6 software update
The user reports follow similar issues being caused by the beta version 15.0 software. Only the original large HomePod is being affected, and usually when connected as an Apple TV stereo pair.
One Reddit user has more than 19 HomePods in their home, and seven of them have been bricked. The user says three are on the release version, and four are beta, but they all failed.
One 9to5Mac reader shared that their oldest speaker in a stereo pair failed after updating to 14.6. The HomePod was connected in stereo with another to an Apple TV for audio.
Another Reddit post said they experienced the same problem as the 9to5Mac reader. One of the speakers in the pair suddenly stopped working after updating to 14.6.
While these are only a few reports, there is a pattern falling out. Stereo pair HomePods, especially ones connected to the Apple TV, have at least one of the speakers brick after the update.
AppleInsider staff all report normal operations of their HomePods in various configurations. We haven't seen any problems with the HomePods themselves or bricking, though some report issues with tvOS 14.6 related to AirPlay.
The issue doesn't appear to be widespread and could be affecting older models in particular. AppleInsider will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as soon as any new information is discovered.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.

HomePods are reportedly failing after the 14.6 software update
The user reports follow similar issues being caused by the beta version 15.0 software. Only the original large HomePod is being affected, and usually when connected as an Apple TV stereo pair.
One Reddit user has more than 19 HomePods in their home, and seven of them have been bricked. The user says three are on the release version, and four are beta, but they all failed.
One 9to5Mac reader shared that their oldest speaker in a stereo pair failed after updating to 14.6. The HomePod was connected in stereo with another to an Apple TV for audio.
Another Reddit post said they experienced the same problem as the 9to5Mac reader. One of the speakers in the pair suddenly stopped working after updating to 14.6.
While these are only a few reports, there is a pattern falling out. Stereo pair HomePods, especially ones connected to the Apple TV, have at least one of the speakers brick after the update.
AppleInsider staff all report normal operations of their HomePods in various configurations. We haven't seen any problems with the HomePods themselves or bricking, though some report issues with tvOS 14.6 related to AirPlay.
The issue doesn't appear to be widespread and could be affecting older models in particular. AppleInsider will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as soon as any new information is discovered.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Comments
Integration with HomeKit is a mess, with Siri saying she can't do things that I'm easily able to do via buttons on the HomeKit App. Siri often contradicts herself by executing commands while simultaneously saying she can't.
A recent update seems to have improved the widely reported problem of HomePods ignoring Siri volume change requests, but that's still not working 100%.
Next for those of you who have more than a few homepod, I'm not sure why you may need so many unless you home is that big. I got 3 and think that may be over kill, having two one on first floor and other on the second is enough to fill the house with music. Grant it I have two surround sound setup for watching movies and found they too were over kill when playing background music in the house. Having Siri on the watch and phone is enough to do most everything without the need for homepod in each room.
Correction: Automatic updates for HomePods was set to "off" in the Home app on my iPhone, but was still set to "on" in the Home app on my Mac. I've changed that there now. This shouldn't be. Those settings should synchronize regardless of which device I use to change them.
Certainly in my case my AirPort routers just weren't able to handle the number of devices I have and keep the network up and stable. The instability problems included some issues with HomePods not functioning as expected. I finally gave up and got a set of Eero Pro mesh routers and the problems went away. Of course, 15 HomePods on the same network is also certain to be an outlier use case, so there may be other issues.
Anyway, it would not power on and it was already out of AppleCare warranty. To make matters worse, it would cost me another $279 to have it replaced. I bit the bullet and paid for a replacement; I like my HomePods and I was willing to do it.
If in fact the failure of my HomePod had something to do with the update, Apple should take some responsibility and refund the cost of replacement or work something out with me. I don't think it will happen though. Side note, this HomePod had already been replaced twice under AppleCare for previous failures.
I saw reports of overheating issues on numerous HomePods running the 15 beta OS a few days ago and now this today on the stable one so I think it's simply a very problematic update series that everyone would be wise to avoid until the fixes are in. Replacing a mini is no big deal, Apple should have plenty of 'em to replace the ones they break, but what to do about the now-discontinued HomePod if their software bricks it?
It's always dicey running betas, and doing so on somewhat expensive non-replaceable devices is more risk than I'd accept. In this case tho I might have fallen victim too if having HomePods since even the stable release is causing some number of failures. That's not something I would have expected.
All three homes have wi-fi provided by three eero Pro 6 routers.
ETA: My son's IOT network consists primarily of direct WiFi devices, all his computers and Fire TV sticks are on WiFi. My home's IOT is mostly Lutron Caseta/Hue, operating over bridges. All of our AppleTVs and computers are on Ethernet. My total WiFi traffic load, both in terms of devices and aggregate bandwidth, is a fraction of my son's. Any argument that my installation is somehow beyond Apple's comprehension seems to admit that Amazon's comprehension is superior to Apple's.
You may be out of luck if you are running a beta but for anyone else these laws apply. The HomePod and recent M1 Macs have zero user serviceable and upgradable parts. They fall under Consumer Rights Laws and Apple would not be able to dispute this.
Just mention Consumer Rights Directive (EU), Consumer Rights Act (UK) to the Apple Rep.